Self-esteem. Something every woman deals with in some way or another at some point in their life. All around me I hear girls complaining about the things they hate about themselves and I’m more than guilty of this myself. Some things we can change, some we can’t, but no matter what it is we seem to sit there and obsess over the smallest aspects of ourselves that we just absolutely hate. After realizing how self-esteem can affect women in such a dramatic way, I came up with a few tips that will boost the beauty you see in yourself.
1. For all of you DIY ladies out there- create a motivation wall. All you need is a few colored pieces of paper and a Sharpie. Simply write any motivational saying you want on the cut up pieces of paper. I have a motivational wall in my room and it definitely helps give me that extra boost of confidence I need. When I feel down about something I just look to that wall and it reminds me that I can do whatever I set my mind to. As corny as that sounds it is a simple way to keep that motivation flowing.
2. We are all guilty of the oh so common trend to follow numerous accounts on Instagram and Twitter of girls that we wish we could be just like. Girls that we think have the perfect hair, perfect abs and perfect bodies. I’m guilty of this too, but one thing you can’t do is compare yourself to these girls that you think are perfect. Everyone’s body is different and comparing yourself to these accounts will just create an obsession over something that’s unrealistic for your body.
3. With that being said there is one person you can compare yourself to, yourself. Who you are now isn’t who you were a month ago or even a week ago. One way that I find is a huge self-esteem booster when it comes to working out is taking progress pictures. Sure your abs or your back may not look as muscular as that girl you follow on Instagram but it sure as hell looks dramatically different than it did in the picture you took a month ago. Little reminders like progress pictures help you to see what you are doing really is working for your body and your body only.
4. Set goals for yourself. And no I don’t mean one goal to achieve at the end of the year, something that may never get accomplished. Instead, set smaller goals for yourself. By setting smaller goals such as one a week, they will be able to be accomplished more easily. With your accomplishment of all these small goals it will help you see that you are moving towards your larger overall goal.
5. Although most of us hate looking at ourselves in the morning, when you get out of bed stand in front of your mirror every morning and pick one thing that you love about yourself and embrace that one feature all day. Roll out of bed and embrace that lion’s mane of a hair-do.
6. It is easy to nit-pick everything you don’t like about yourself, but love yourself for your flaws, insecurities and the things you wish you could change. We all have them but most of the time those around you don’t even seem to notice the stuff you obsess over.
7. Smile. No matter what kind of day you’re having, smile and your day will thank you later.
8. Laugh. Some researchers say that even laughing can add time to your life, so whatever you’re stressing about find the humor in it.
9. Engage yourself in the day. It is easy to lay in bed all day and not embrace the world. Don’t take your time for granted, find that feeling of accomplishment when you find that your day is over, not the ‘wow I’ve done nothing all day feeling.’
10. Don’t let the scale weigh you down. Obsessing over a number on the scale will just drive you insane. Find happiness in what you’ve accomplished and don’t let a number tell you otherwise. Instead of weighing after each meal, weigh once a month. If you constantly monitor something small changes aren’t noticed.
Curly hair, straight hair, brown eyed, blue eyed, tall, short, skinny, muscular, thigh gap or no thigh gap, abs or no abs, every woman is unique and every woman deserves to see themselves as the true beauties they are.